Monday, 31 July 2017

Almost Done!

This year's Yorkshire Holiday posts, I mean.The 17th of July is covered, now let me tell you about the 18th. It was a Tuesday, and Tuesday nights all through the months of July and August mean one thing in Ripon: Organ Recitals at the Cathedral!My sister and I went to that the previous week, and enjoyed the experience greatly. We did not have to think long and hard to decide we'd go again the following Tuesday, which was the 18th.But before it was recital time, we had a leisurely day of visiting book shops (not leaving empty-handed, of course), other shops and the two remaining museums we had not yet been to but which were part of our Museums Pass: The Courthouse Museum and the Prison & Police Museum. As you can imagine, neither are particularly cheerful places, but nonetheless fascinating and interesting. Both are relatively small and within easy walking distance from each other, so one can easily "do" them in a couple of hours. The website of all three museums is here.Eventually, we became hungry, and since I "have to" have fish & chips at least once every time I am in England, we walked over to Duke's Fish & Chips. Only one young lady was in front of us, so we thought, hooray, this is going to be quick!We were wrong...The young lady was obviously getting herself and her colleagues a late lunch for the office, as she was ordering 7 portions of fish & chips with peas, salt and vinegar.Two people worked behind the counter: one youngish man was busily frying the ordered fish and chips, while a rather young lady who obviously had spent a coniserable amount of time on teaming her lipstick with her hairband wrapped up the orders.In fact, she wrapped up each portion so lovingly and carefully, first having taken her time to tenderly sprinkle them with a bit of salt here and a splash of vinegar there, and her paper wrapping would have done any origami teacher proud. After she had finished the first three of the ordered 7 portions, the man took over. With well-practised hands, he added salt and vinegar at the same time and then wrapped the reamining four portions in a very efficient manner, finishing four portions in half the time it had taken his colleague to wrap three.The office lady left with 7 (probably cold) portions of fish and chips, and we were next. The man said "Thank you for waiting", which was the next thing to an apology - the young lady who had taken so long to complete her task was nowhere to be seen by then.My portion of fish & chips (no peas, no extra salt and definitely no vinegar) was delicious- juicy and tender, hot, crunchy and greasy at the same time, the way it should be.Before we needed to get ready for the recital, we spent some time in our pretty garden. I wanted some more walking and took a very brisk one to almost Studley Roger. Here are the pictures I took.

One of my favourite houses in Ripon:

The path to Studley Roger you have seen before, on my post about our walk to Fountains Abbey. The point in the picture is where I turned round in order to be home in time for a quick meal before leaving for the recital.Once more, we were in for a marvellous experience. When music and architecture come together in such a manner as is the case when listening to the organ being so beautifully played in the middle of Ripon Cathedral, it is close to perfection.Afterwards, it was wine and nibbles again, like last week. Hopefully, we'll be able to catch a concert or two at the cathedral next year, too.

14 comments:

I love organ recitals and listening to choirs practising as well which often happens in cathedrals. In fact a friend and I often listen to the daily organ recital at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery. So I can really 'be with you' at your recital. As for slow or poor service I'm afraid that I'm not very forgiving.

I love the occasional fish 'n' chip supper. Poor service is a pain, though I can forgive it if people are trying. Generally in the UK, I find smaller outlets better at respecting their customers than larger businesses, many of which, quite frankly, don't give a damn. I reserve extra special hatred for British Telecom, who are so far up themselves they exist in the dark. But, curiously enough given the business they're in, most communication companies seem unable to communicate effectively.

I have noticed the same, Mike; companies who "sell" communication seem extraordinarily poor at it themselves."Duke's" in Ripon is a very small chippie, just the size of the counter and a bit at the back. No chairs and tables there or anything.

The organ recitals at Ripon Cathedral are not for free. If you buy your ticket in advance at the cathedral's shop, they are 8 pounds each; if you buy them at the recital itself, they are 10 pounds. But they are worth a lot more, AND you get wine and nibbles afterwards :-)They do have free lunch time concerts, as far as I know.

I've just been scrolling through your Yorkshire photos (again) on my 'big screen' computer monitor... (I read some blog posts on my phone while I was away travelling myself; but then I use the Feedly app and skip comments.) Always nice to revisit Yorkshire with you! :)

Always nice of you to come along, Monica :-)Like you, I sometimes read a post on my phone (mainly on weekends away, when I do not have my own computer) but then look at them again on the proper screen.

I loved your account of the lass in the fish and chip shop wrapping up the big fish and chip order but I am astonished that you don't like malt vinegar on your fish and chips! The "CONCEPT" is outrageous. Wouldn't you agree Piseth San? (Piseth San is a Thai name which means - stupid time waster).

Sorry that you do not find my read very beautifully soulful, Neil!I'm afraid I'll never make a good Yorkshire lass - I do not drink tea with milk, and I don't like vinegar on either fish or chips. For me, vinegar (preferably of the balsamico kind) is part of a vinaigrette and belongs to salads.